The First Amendment Threatens Ignorance

[Jared Denman]

I generally don't post on the Deck regarding internecine squabbles but after reading a few of the recent posts I'm going to weigh in. There seems to be generally, two kinds of posters on the Deck: those that post information useful to the public and those that post about those that post useful information. Those that post about those posting information usually follow this form: "The information you just posted is not correct. Stop spreading misinformation! Stop dividing the community! Stop insulting me with your information!" There are few posts that I have seen where another point of view shored up by verifiable information was presented. Instead it has degraded into ad hominem attacks. Interestingly, those that post against those that post useful information are supporting the official narratives coming out of City Hall and there is already abundant evidence of a coordinated counter intelligence campaign by LHA/City Hall interests (LHA funding "No on 64," the fake paper supporting those interests). It begs the question whether these individuals are attempting to derail the good work of the Deck. If you take issue with something that is posted, use rational debate and FACTS to rebut, not the grade school tactics of name calling. There should be a culture on the Deck that values reason as one of the highest forms of human interaction and what separates us from animals. Please have the humility to admit when your view on a subject was misinformed or incorrect and the courtesy to concede the point.

[Jared Denman]

Something I needed to add. "Kate E. Parker" is a troll. Trolls don't reason. Ignore them.

[Lori Allen _]

Jared,
I agree. You have brought up excellent points. I believe that Lord Lakewood and Company have put several posters here on the Deck to derail the threads and defame the characters of the posters. This appears to happen when someone posts good, reputable information about city hall, the hospital or Summers. Since it appears that Summers and Company can't tell the truth, they send on the troll cheer leading squad. They can't tell the truth because if they did, I believe they would incriminate themselves. Instead of giving in to whom I believe is the the dictator of Lakewood, we need to make a stand. Jim needs to take a stand also. We will back him 100%. Giving in is giving up on our freedom and our rights. Say NO to the dictator and his cronies! This problem could be alleviated simply by banning the two trouble makers. Although there are more members of the cheering squad, they just need to be handled one at a time!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jared,
I agree. You have brought up excellent points. I believe that Lord Lakewood and Company have put several posters here on the Deck to derail the threads and defame the characters of the posters. This appears to happen when someone posts good, reputable information about city hall, the hospital or Summers. Since it appears that Summers and Company can't tell the truth, they send on the troll cheer leading squad. They can't tell the truth because if they did, I believe they would incriminate themselves. Instead of giving in to whom I believe is the the dictator of Lakewood, we need to make a stand. Jim needs to take a stand also. We will back him 100%. Giving in is giving up on our freedom and our rights. Say NO to the dictator and his cronies! This problem could be alleviated simply by banning the two trouble makers. Although there are more members of the cheering squad, they just need to be handled one at a time!

Lori, Mike, Others

The Observer is open to members from City Hall.

As of late Councilman and Management have joined in conversations, with great exchanges of information for all.

Live, work, play or wish to play here, we have room for you.

The Observer is not us against them. It is us. This is what always amuses me about those that attack "The Deck." The Deck is nothing more than blank pages, crayons, pencils, and ???? waiting to be used. There is no "Observer Mindset" no "koolaid."

At the same time, as frustrated as I get with what some call antics, people have a right to question data presented.

The problems seems to be how it is presented and discussed.

.

[Lori Allen _]

Jim,

When has Summers ever posted here to answer questions or to give answers about the bogus hospital deal? Other then Dan O'Malley posting a couple of times, what other council persons have come on the Deck to engage in good, transparent, truthful conversation about the hospital or anything else for that matter? Chief Gilman has posted here several times, however, most times it appears to be to defend Summers or the hospital deal. Look at the last post Gilman engaged in. Instead of posting the requested information and answering the questions for the citizens of Lakewood, who pay his salary, he thread drifted and tried to make at least part of it my fault. City Hall has no intentions of actively participating in open honest conversations with the posters on here. That why I find it so interesting that Summers appears to want to silence Brian Essi and I. Some of the only posters here on the Deck that have the courage to stand up to him and his cronies and have actually posted credible information here on the Deck. I assume by Gilman's silence to the last thread, he is not able to do this for what I believe to be fear of releasing something that does not look good. I realize that you have to try to stay neutral, but, let's be honest and call it what it really is.

If you choose to let Lord and Company run your newspaper, we still have other means of getting the story out. If any Deck members are interested in starting up a 24/7 picket in front of the Urgent Care please PM me. A story can be told by holding up signs too!

Jim, please do not take this as an insult. I have great respect for you and this project. I just would hate to see Summers and a few "elected officials" change it forever.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim, please do not take this as an insult. I have great respect for you and this project. I just would hate to see Summers and a few "elected officials" change it forever.

Lori

As long as they do not present a threat or danger to members of this project, or too this project, I would argue they deserve a seat at the table.

Mayor Summers would do much for straighten out problems, and moving the city forward by jumping in here. I am not afraid of what he says, I am more worried about what he is not saying. As I look back over the various wars that have broken out, they have all been because of a lack of real information, an public process, and uncovering nightmares as they are pushed through. Here we are again. Had the mayor done this publicly, I think the hospital would still be gone, there would be no war. Lakewood would be peaceful.

Lori, we have stayed away from editing and deleting and banning because there is no budget for it. No one, even the most strident members of moderating do not want to be responsible for it. So, we have chosen this system, to make people think, make people responsible, and provide a foundation to find facts and understand players.

So, if I stop Mayor Summers from posting, what about resident Mike Summers? What about Wendy Summers? Friends of Mike's? Seems like we are losing a lot of good people quickly.

At the same time, Mike Deneen and others do have a point. City Hall runs their spin through other sources, completely within their rights. Does the Observer take the extra space and give it to others? Do we hire reporters to offset and fact finding? I have been fair running the project, should I become the publisher Build Lakewood has said I am? Should I be as biased this election as some here claim I am? Tempting. Time will tell.

.

[Ryan Salo]

I think linked blogs would be great. Some threads have good information but get hijacked by someone with an agenda and truly make it painful and difficult to sift through the get the meat of the posts.

I'm assuming people will still start threads to debate any blogs they disagree with but at least it will keep the main points together.

[Lori Allen _]

Jim,

I didn't mean to say that Mike Summers or any of his friends really should be banned from posting (unless they are using foul language, harassing, trolling, etc.)

I think the point I was getting at was that Summers and a few "elected officials" should not have complete control over the Deck and that those that continually harass, troll, and derail threads should be dealt with accordingly ,up to and including a ban. I'm still rather confused as to why elected officials want the linked blogs. I would guess it might be because certain individuals post research, photos, etc. that do not show the mayor and city council in the most positive light. I will say that the trash situation is slowly getting better. If there is another reason, I would be open to hearing it.

I don't think that anyone should be forced into a blog. I am not a blogger and do not intend to become one. If it is optional, that would be okay, I guess,

Just my opinion. FWIW.